How to Write ツ (Katakana 'tsu') — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) character ツ (“Katakana 'tsu'”), indexed under the ツ (—) radical. Practice ツ alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as ツアー (tsuaa — tour).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (ツ)
Primary Radical (部首): ツ — —
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary (Katakana (カタカナ)). As a phonetic Katakana (カタカナ) syllable pronounced "tsu", ツ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, ツ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the ツ (—) structure cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
In Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary), ツ conveys the core meaning “Katakana 'tsu'” and is built around the ツ (—) radical across 3 strokes (foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes)). Reinforce ツ in memory by pairing its radical structure with real Jukugo vocabulary: ツアー (tsuaa — tour).
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using ツ
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji ツ (FAQ)
How many strokes are in ツ and how is it structured?
The Japanese character ツ ("Katakana 'tsu'") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the ツ (—) radical. With only 3 strokes, ツ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the ツ (—) structure cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for ツ?
For ツ (Katakana (カタカナ)), the Onyomi is — and the Kunyomi is tsu. As a phonetic Katakana (カタカナ) syllable pronounced "tsu", ツ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using ツ includes ツアー (tsuaa — tour).
What is the stroke order rule for writing ツ on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of ツ (Katakana 'tsu'), start with the ツ (—) and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice ツ interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More Katakana (カタカナ) Characters to Practice Next
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